Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., known professionally as Snoop Dogg, Becomes the New Owner of Death Row Records

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@SnoopDogg
@CozomoMedici

Hip-Hop icon Snoop Dogg has returned to the label where his legendary career was launched. According to a press release from Business Wire, he’s the new owner of Death Row Records. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Snoop acquired the Death Row Records brand from MNRK Music Group. The acquisition was announced as he anticipates the release of his latest album, B.O.D.R (Born On Death Row) which is set to drop on February 11, 2022.

In a statement, Snoop spoke about the full-circle moment of purchasing his former label.

“I am thrilled and appreciative of the opportunity to acquire the iconic and culturally significant Death Row Records brand, which has immense untapped future value,” Snoop said. “It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me. I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK, and especially David Kestnbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality. I’m looking forward to building the next chapter of Death Row Records.”

In an interview with GQ, Snoop expressed his desire to purchase the rights to Death Row when the assets of the label were being sold to various investors.

“eOne Music [which owned Death Row Music until April 2021] didn’t want to give me action at it,” he recalled. “So then I asked could I buy it? And they acted like they didn’t want to sell it. Then they sold it [to the Blackstone Group], and the man in me was hurt, but the businessman in me said, Okay, I got to find something else to do to take this energy of mine that I’m holding on to.”

Founded in 1991 by Dr. Dre, Suge Knight, The D.O.C., and Dick Griffey, Death Row became one of the seminal labels in hip-hop in the 90s. The label was home to some of the greatest artists in the history of West Coast rap such as Tupac Shakur, MC Hammer, Lady of Rage, Tha Dogg Pound, and many others.

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Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion),[note 1] is an American rapper, songwriter, media personality, actor, and entrepreneur. His fame dates to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre‘s debut solo single, “Deep Cover“, and then on Dre’s debut solo album, The Chronic. Broadus has since sold over 23 million albums in the United States and 35 million albums worldwide.

Broadus’ debut solo album, Doggystyle, produced by Dr. Dre, was released by Death Row Records in November 1993, and debuted at number one on the popular albums chart, the Billboard 200, and on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Selling 800,000 copies in its first week, Doggystyle was certified quadruple-platinum in 1994 and bore several hit singles, including “What’s My Name?” and “Gin and Juice“. In 1994, Death Row Records released a soundtrack, by Broadus, for the short film Murder Was the Case, starring Snoop. In 1996, his second album, Tha Doggfather, also debuted at number one on both charts, with “Snoop’s Upside Ya Head” as the lead single. The next year, the album was certified double-platinum.

After leaving Death Row Records in January 1998, Broadus signed with No Limit Records, releasing three Snoop albums: Da Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told (1998), No Limit Top Dogg (1999), and Tha Last Meal (2000). In 2002, he signed with Priority/Capitol/EMI Records, releasing Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss. In 2004, he signed to Geffen Records, releasing his next three albums: R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece, then Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, and Ego Trippin’. Priority Records released his album Malice ‘n Wonderland during 2009, followed by Doggumentary during 2011. Snoop Dogg has starred in motion pictures and hosted several television shows, including Doggy Fizzle Televizzle, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, and Dogg After Dark. He also coaches a youth football league and high-school football team. In September 2009, EMI hired him as the chairman of a reactivated Priority Records.

In 2012, after a trip to Jamaica, Broadus announced a conversion to Rastafari and a new alias, Snoop Lion. As Snoop Lion he released a reggae album, Reincarnated, and a documentary film of the same name, about his Jamaican experience, in early 2013. His 13th studio album, Bush, was released in May 2015 and marked a return of the Snoop Dogg name. His 14th solo studio album, Coolaid, was released in July 2016. In March 2016, the night before WrestleMania 32 in Arlington, Texas, he was inducted into the celebrity wing of the WWE Hall of Fame, having made several appearances for the company, including as master of ceremonies during a match at WrestleMania XXIV. In 2018, Snoop announced that he was “a born-again Christian” and released his first gospel album Bible of Love. On November 19, 2018, Snoop Dogg was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He released his seventeenth solo album, I Wanna Thank Me, in 2019. In 2022, Snoop Dogg acquired Death Row Records from MNRK Music Group (formerly known as eOne Music), and released his 20th studio album, BODR. Snoop has had 17 Grammy nominations without a win.

Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg
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Snoop Dogg in July 2019
Born
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr.

October 20, 1971 (age 50)

Other names
  • Snoop Doggy Dogg
  • Snoop Lion
  • Bigg Snoop Dogg
  • Dogg Father
  • Snoop Rock
  • DJ Snoopadelic
  • Snoopzilla
  • FaZe Snoop
Education Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Occupation
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • media personality
  • entrepreneur
  • record producer
Years active 1992–present
Organization Snoop Youth Football League
Title
  • Founder of Doggystyle Records
  • Owner of Death Row Records
  • Executive Creative Consultant at Def Jam Recordings
  • Member of FaZe Clan‘s Board of Directors
Spouse(s)
  • Shante Taylor

    (m. 1997; div. 2004)

  • (m. 2008)

Children 4
Relatives
Awards Full list
Musical career
Genres
Instruments Vocals
Labels
Associated acts
Website snoopdogg.com